TVGuide.ca: Congratulations on your new business venture — Kelly’s Spa! Fill me in. Katherine Kelly Lang: It’s very exciting! [My business partner and husband, manager] Alex [D’Andrea] came up with this idea three years ago to open a chain of exclusive, all-inclusive spas, named Kelly Spa in the famous luxury five-star Baglioni Hotels in Europe. The first spa is scheduled to open mid-May in the elegant Regina Hotel Baglioni in Rome. [Check out Hotel Baglioni's site here.]
Our goal is to create a modern and new approach to well-being, vitality and beauty where we will offer an unparalleled level of personalized attention, professional services and products. Our every effort will be to create a pleasurable experience and journey of renewal. We open next month.
TVG: Your biggest client will probably be Brooke Logan! KKL: [laughs] Brooke would probably be there every day!
TVG: Your beauty is breathtaking, and has only grown with each passing year. And no one in daytime has kept their body in better shape than you! I recently wrote in my Suds Report that you’d be the perfect actress to play Madonna in a movie. KKL: Omigod; that would be so cool! I used to worship her when I was younger. Madonna is so strong, powerful and opinionated. I still like her, but twenty years ago I was obsessed! As for my health, thank you — I work out a lot. I’ve been training for a marathon this year. I’m also racing my horse a lot.
TVG: That’s another Madonna connection — she loves horseback riding as well. KKL: Isn’t that funny? Has anyone ever done her story?
TVG: No, not yet. KKL: That is so cool! I would just die to play Madonna in a movie! We need to make that happen! [laughs]
TVG: 21 years later, you’re still on B&B — are you shocked at how iconic Brooke has become? KKL: Yes. I’m excited about what’s been created here. This character has sustained a lot, and I’ve been there with her through it all. I feel like I’ve accomplished something here. Of course, there are other things I still want to do — like that Madonna movie! [laughs]
TVG: Susan Flannery recently told me that she plans on retiring in two years. How do you feel about losing your co-star? Stephanie and Brooke’s relationship is the heart and soul of the show. KKL: [sighs] It’s not going to be the same. I mean, how can it be? It will feel like a black hole — and I doubt that void can ever be filled. I don’t know… I hope she can stay for a while.
TVG: From your mouth… Do you think Brooke is being groomed to take over Stephanie’s role on the show? Brooke’s already meddling in people’s lives… KKL: [laughs] I know! I don’t think the writers are trying to make Brooke a Stephanie clone, per se, but they are making Brooke more meddlesome, especially in her children’s love lives.
TVG: Why do you think Brooke is so popular? KKL: Because I think she has a good and bad side to her. Deep down, she’s a real person. She makes mistakes. People can relate to her.
TVG: Brooke brings out myriad feminist, moral, and sexual issues — just like Madonna has. Viewers either love or hate Brooke. Feminist author Camille Paglia could write volumes on Brooke as a feminist icon. For instance, the Forrester men are never held accountable for their sexual indiscretions — which is why Brooke’s rape really resonated. Since it was your idea, how do you feel the storyline played out? KKL: It’s sort of how I pictured it because often times when you come up with an idea, that’s not always the case. I was very pleased with how it all turned out. To be able to air the PSA after those scenes was a proud moment for me because lots of women called the hotline for help. So it worked on two levels — it was an opportunity to do something dramatic and different for Brooke, but also reach out and help people.
And I suggested the actor, Paul Ganus, who played Brooke’s rapist, Andy Johnson. He was fascinating. I first met him as a day player on B&B — and once I saw him I called [executive producer and head writer] Bradley Bell and said, “If you ever want to do the rape storyline — this is the guy!” I could immediately see it all play out in my head because Paul looked like a creepy rapist to me.
TVG: Since rape is so overdone on soaps, I’ve naturally become immune to the plot device, however, Brooke’s rape traumatized me. It was so horrifying to watch that I had to pause the scenes several times to catch my breath. Having said that, I think it was a brilliant idea because of the dichotomies involved. Brooke has always owned her sexuality, despite being vilified for it. KKL: It did make her take a step back and question whether she deserved it or not. Her trust issues have come back to haunt her, thanks to the rape. A lot of women go through that. I’m glad we did this storyline.
TVG: Are you interested in writing or producing down the road? You seem to have a knack for it. KKL: I get these short bursts of ideas but then I’m kind of over it because I’m acting so much. My 17-year-old son Julian [Snider] is a [burgeoning] filmmaker and we often sit down together and flesh out story ideas. That side of me does come out every once in a while, so it’s a possibility.
TVG: I’m unapologetically frustrated with B&B right now. I can not deal with this Ridge-Nick merry-go-round; do you feel the same way? KKL: I hate it! I have to be honest because it’s driving me crazy. Why do they always have to resort to this old pattern? Hasn’t Brooke learned anything?
TVG: You’d think the rape would have put an end to her romantic indecisiveness. KKL: I don’t understand it, to be honest. It’s completely frustrating as an actor to play.
TVG: She loses a lot of credibility as a result of her fickleness. KKL: We’ve done it [ad nauseam], so let’s move on to something else. I know it’s hard to write a daily soap opera and come up with fresh ideas for these veteran characters — especially on a half-hour show because of our small cast, but enough is enough.
TVG: Who do you think is Brooke’s true love? I believe it’s Nick, though I can’t invest in that love story anymore because of all the damage that’s been done by the writers when Brooke ran back to Ridge — another man who has sexually abused Brooke. KKL: Honestly, I think the love that she’ll never get out of her heart is Ridge. Nick brought something new and fresh to her life. He respected her. But I still believe deep in her heart, her true love is Ridge.
TVG: Something feels different with Brooke and Nick now; I can’t put my finger on it, but I’m not the diehard fan I used to be. KKL: Yes, I agree. Something has been lost between them. Even their chemistry is different now. A lot has happened and I don’t know if they can ever get it back. It’s almost like Nick and Brooke don’t trust each other anymore. [sighs]
TVG: Do you think Brooke has really dealt with the rape? I don’t. She was in therapy for two minutes. KKL: I agree, I don’t think she has, so I’m hoping they bring the rape element back into her life in some way. I told Brad, “If we do this, you can’t just drop the story somehow.” It still has to affect her in the future in ways you wouldn’t expect.
TVG: To be fair, the writers’ strike didn’t help. KKL: Yes, that threw a lot of things off — and didn’t help anyone for that matter.
TVG: Do you think the baby Jack storyline is just another distraction from Brooke dealing with the rape? KKL: Probably a distraction. I do understand the motherly connection and instinct. I don’t know if it’s totally genuine, because she didn’t carry the baby or even bond with Jack enough. I’m not sure yet.
TVG: You must be sick of all the quickie weddings they plan for Brooke. KKL: I know. I think it’s time for something big and glamorous. Sometimes I get bored with Brooke walking down the aisle for the umpteenth time, but I wouldn’t mind something lavish in the near future.
TVG: Congratulations on your Emmy pre-nomination. Do you think the rape storyline will help you earn your first nomination? KKL: I submitted the rape for my Emmy tape, but I don’t know if those scenes will resonate out of context. I don’t expect anything, that’s for sure. Whatever happens, happens. All I know is I’m happy with my work, and I’m thankful to have a job.
TVG: You were so funny during B&B’s 5000th episode when Brooke told Stephanie she loved her. Do you wish you could play more comedy? KKL: I love comedy! Yes! It’s great when it’s written in, and you can play with it.
TVG: One great development this year has been the re-introduction of the Logan family. KKL: I love it. I want to see more scenes between the Logan siblings.
TVG: They certainly didn’t skimp on the casting! KKL: I know — I’ve been so lucky! I’d love to see Brooke’s mother, Beth, come back. Family is important.
TVG: And so are you! Continued success. I’m rooting for you — and I hope to see you onstage accepting your first Daytime Emmy!
